74 Am. U. L. Rev. 1215 (2025).

Abstract

For decades, the simple wisdom of Dr. Seuss (a/k/a Theodore Geisel) has occupied a beloved spot in the hearts of the countless millions who grew up with his children’s books and the animated specials they spawned. And since some children grow up to become lawyers and judges, it is hardly surprising to see Dr. Seuss’s lessons enshrined in our legal system. Judges from trial courts to the U.S. Supreme Court have referenced Dr. Seuss’s works in addressing everything from environmental concerns to personhood to inmate rights. No less a figure than U.S. Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan referenced Seuss’s 1960 book One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish in discussing statutory construction and the meaning of the term “tangible object” as recently as 2015.

This Article examines the extent of how Seussian flourishes and concepts have influenced the legal system. Far beyond the simple appeal of amusing scenarios and rhyming schemes, Dr. Seuss’s extensive body of work has yielded valuable lessons for jurists and lawyers when it comes to remaining accessible to the public they serve. Opaque concepts like tort reform, legislative intent, and the limitations on the discharge of public employees have been rendered considerably more understandable by allusions to many of the more than forty-three books written by Dr. Seuss (not to mention the numerous TV shows and movies as well). This Article illustrates this concept with discussion of the many real-life case examples.

As this Article demonstrates, however, Dr. Seuss’s impact on various aspects of the law is not just felt through the quotations employed by the many judges who have cited the beloved author’s work. Seuss’s work has also influenced the field of immigration law and has been at the heart of significant development of the fair use doctrine in intellectual property law. This Article contextualizes Dr. Seuss’s influence within the greater tradition of judges reflecting the influence of pop culture, humor, and verse in their judicial writings.

While we are not likely to change the name of our Torts classes to “Oh The People You’ll Sue,” Dr. Seuss’s impact has been indisputably felt on our legal system. And even those whose hearts are two sizes too small (like the Grinch’s) will embrace Dr. Seuss’s timeless wisdom like courts across the United States have.

* Distinguished Jurist in Residence, Faulkner University’s Thomas Goode Jones School of Law. J.D., University of Texas School of Law; B.A., Rutgers University. Justice Browning practiced civil litigation for thirty-six years and served on Texas’ Fifth District Court of Appeals in Dallas. He shares his love of pop culture and matching “Thing One” and “Thing Two” shirts with his wife of thirty-six years, Lisa Browning.